By Starrys Obazei | February 22, 2023
starrys@ddnewsonline.com
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted an order of interim forfeiture of 14 property in Lagos, Abuja, United Arab Emirates belonging to the Kogi State government, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo, the trial judge, granted the order following an ex parte motion filed and argued by EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
Oyedepo informed the court that the property, including the one in the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, were reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activities.
Justice Oweibo also authorized the EFCC to confiscate N400 million also linked to the state and recovered from one Aminu Falala.
Oyedepo further told the court that the N400 million was reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity “and intended to be used for the acquisition of Plot No. 1224, Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.”
The judge also directed the EFCC to publish the order within 14 days for any interested party to show cause why the forfeiture order should not be made permanently.